Budget fails to address issues of economic slowdown: Rana

Kathmandu, June 2: Lawmaker from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Dhawal Shumser JB Rana has said the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) failed to address the country's economic slowdown.     

Taking part in the general deliberations on the budget in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the lawmaker said the budget has come with a 'distributive approach', instead of presenting substantive plans to address the economic slowdown existing in the country.     

He also expressed his concern over the decision to allocate a 'minimum' budget to the agricultural sector and the projects of national pride.     

Advising the government to focus on the implementation aspect of the budget, the leader said it is indeed welcoming to announce 'good programmes' in the start-up sector. "It is welcoming to announce a decade of investment in the IT sector."     

Similarly, Rekha Yadav said the budget speech failed to encourage the masses. "It has been challenging to effectively implement the budget," she said.     

She also expressed her concerns over the reduction of the budget to the agricultural sector, accusing the government of overlooking the productive sector.     

Yadav also criticized the government for being 'unable' to address the water crisis issue in the Chure region and to conserve the region. The exploitation of the Chure in the name of the stone quarry and the extraction of other natural resources be promptly stopped and it should be the priority of the State, she said.     

Similarly, Ganesh Parajuli of Rastriya Swatantra Party said the budget has provided a respite to farmers who are hit hard by increasing price rises.     

The decision to lift VAT on the imports of potatoes and onions is welcoming, he said.     

According to him, the announcement to identify IT as an industry and to promote it and the decision to implement a two-tier taxation rate in the imports of readymade garments and raw materials will promote domestic production.(RSS)